End Notes

Wotcher friends,

So, guys, my last week in London was a very good one, maybe a little stressful at times what with all the dirty laundry and papers/presentations, but good nonetheless.  I went to see Les Miserables and Richard III (starring Kevin Spacey), visited Lacock Abbey where they did some filming for the first two HP movies, and walked around London... A LOT.  It was a good, semi-relaxed way to say goodbye.  I realize I didn't do a whole lot of touristy things--I didn't go to the changing of the guard, high tea, the London Tower, Tate Modern, the London Eye, nooooor Tower Bridge--but my London ventures were very unique and personalized to my own tastes.  I was able to see London (and other parts of the UK) specific to my interests in history, literature, and pop culture which meant a great deal more than experiencing something I could buy on a postcard.  And London had some parting gifts for me, too... rain, mist, rain, cold weather, and some more rain.  I figured it meant well, but I was definitely ready for some MS sunshine.

 

Les Miserables!

 

Lacock Abbey courtyard (i.e. Hogwarts courtyard)

 

Remember that time Dumbledore convinced Slughorn to come back to Hogwarts to teach Potions??!?!?!??!?.....

 

A Space Invader piece close to the British Museum!

http://www.space-invaders.com/london.html

 

This one time... I saw Kevin Spacey in a play.  And it was real good.

 

Le sigh.  See y'all later.

So, here ends my London adventures (and not a moment too soon since the riots would have made travelling much more difficult and a tad bit nerve-racking).  I definitely enjoyed my time abroad--I learned a lot and experienced a lot--but it is OH so nice to be home, so nice to see friends and family.

Nox for now,

Kelsey

p.s.  

Good friends, good weather, good times.  

There's just something about good ole Mississippi that the rest of the world cannot offer.  

It's very good to be home.

The Shire, Wales

Wotcher m'dears,

If ever I stepped into an LOTR movie, this was it.  This was Wales.  So, let me tell you about it... via an already written journal entry, if you please.

Journal, 31 July 2011:

"...And then was born another day, Friday.  And on this Friday we left for Wales (for the open air, the green hills, the sea, and the general spirit!).  Upon arrival in Conwy we went straight to the castle--nearly a thousand years old.  Conwy Castle, unlike many I had previously seen, seemed untouched since its original construction (funded by Edward I).  Maybe a beam here for structural support or a door there to keep out the more curious tourists, but other than that the castle was the same--no restorations, no new furniture to resemble the old; it was very beautiful.  Where there had once been a roof, there was now only sky, and below, where there had been marvelous floors for the lords and ladies, there was only grass (for the birds).  It was clear that nature was reclaiming the castle for her own; the stones were her children, and their fostered defenders were no longer there, dead by some war, some fierce winter, some disease, time.  All human struggles.  But now nature was on her way to victory over Conwy Castle.  It was beautiful indeed.  I cheered her on.  After touring the castle, we sat by the sea (just to be reminded of just how small we really were...and Oh, how small we really are).  The sun wasn't out, but it wasn't raining, so I'd have called it a pretty day.  And it was a pretty day!  We walked around the town, bought some things, and ate lunch at a local pub before finally heading down into Snowdonia National Park where we were to stay in a small village called Penmachno."
    

Conwy Castle, north coast of Wales

 

Leslie and I being silly on a stream in Penmachno, Wales (i.e. The Shire)

     "...On Saturday (for Friday had died and Saturday was born in its place), we took a bus to Llanberis and from there we hiked Mt. Snowdon.  On the path up to the top of the mountain I realized the amount--no, the diversity!--of people hiking alongside us.  Here was a group of traditional Muslims, and there, people from India, and even farther ahead were some Londoners (who would later ask us to take their picture--we would say yes).  And in noticing the people, by observing our differences, I saw our likenesses--we're all going the same way!  We're all walking on the path here to the summit there, and as O'Conner reminded me, 'Everything that rises must converge.'  Yes!  We're all going to become one, I realized.  The Americans, the British, the Welsh, the Irish, the Indians, the Muslims, the... the names were dissolving, there were now only faces amongst the clouds, only smiles, only laughter, only one spirit atop the mountain.  This was the pennacle of life!  Here, there was peace.  We had all overcome the journey, the path, and here we were, together, on this peak.  'Welcome home,' the mountain whispered."

  

On the hike to summit Snowdon!

http://www.hightrek.co.uk/snowdonia/snowdon.htm

 

Mountain view of lakes (llyns) below.

 

Llyn Elsi:  http://www.snowdoniaguide.com/llyn_elsi.html

 

I mean, when else can you say you swam in a lake in Wales?  

It was not the most pleasant of experiences, but an experience it was.

I'm so glad that I was able to visit Wales.  It was a very genuine place, and I would love to go back some day.  (Want to come with?)

Sincerely (using too many parenthetical phrases),

Kelsey

Alnwick on a Broomstick

Wotcher y'all,

So, this one time... 

I went to Hogwarts.  And learned to fly on a broom, just like Harry Potter.

My life was then made complete.

 

Harry Potter and the (Philosopher's) Stone... watch 0:42 - 0:56!

 

It's Hogwarts! (i.e. Alnwick Castle in Northumberland)

 

I am Harry Potter.  Total transcendence.

We also formed a Quidditch team that day.  I'm a Chaser but am backup for Seeker.  You're probably laughing, but that's okay.  I don't expect muggles to understand.

Sincerely nerdy,

Kelsey